2012 Toyota Camry Reliability
The 2012 Toyota Camry has 646 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and unknown or other. Compared with other Camry model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Camry's typical year, while the 2013 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
646
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
95
Complaints citing a crash
6
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Toyota Camry complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 146 | 23% |
| Unknown or other | 88 | 14% |
| Air bags | 83 | 13% |
| Speed control / throttle | 73 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 68 | 11% |
| Body structure | 68 | 11% |
| Steering | 66 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 65 | 10% |
2012 Toyota Camry recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V014000 | Jan 16, 2013 | Air bags — frontal / sensor/control module-inactive | Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and… |
| 13V442000 | Oct 17, 2013 | Electrical system | Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air… |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Camry years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Camry analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 614 | 9 | Speed control / throttle | Avoid |
| 2011 | 625 | 5 | Visibility / wipers | Avoid |
| 2012 (this page) | 646 | 2 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2013 | 301 | 2 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
| 2014 | 480 | 3 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2012 Toyota Camry on the used market
- 150 of 1,208 2012 Toyota Camry listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2012 Toyota Camry
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Toyota Camry can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Toyota Camry reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Toyota Camry reliable?
The 2012 Toyota Camry has 646 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and unknown or other. Compared with other Camry model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Camry's typical year, while the 2013 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2012 Toyota Camry problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Toyota Camry are powertrain / transmission (146), unknown or other (88), air bags (83), speed control / throttle (73). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Toyota Camry have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Toyota Camry, including 13V014000 (air bags — frontal / sensor/control module-inactive) and 13V442000 (electrical system). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Toyota Camry compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 625 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid); the 2013 has 301 complaints and 2 recalls (solid). The 2012 has 646 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Toyota Camry?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Camry research
Other Toyota Camry model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Camry, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.